Culture Shock.

Culture Shock: The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.This definition may be pretty clear but you truly don't understand culture shock until you have experienced it. America being a melting pot of cultures makes it more common than not to experience this. When i was younger i was very close to one of my cousins. She is half Belizean and half Indian. Its obvious that she is more connected with her Belizean roots, but i never noticed her Indian roots. We were around eleven and her grandma who is Indian was there watching us. Just like any grandma she kept pushing food on us, and it would be rude to say no. So even tho the food didn't look too appetizing i had to eat it. I sucked up up and sat at the table and her grandma placed a plate of food in front of me and said "Mango rice." I thought to myself "goodness i don't want this. i like mangos, and i like rice, but not together." I went to grab a fork and realized one wasn't at the table so i got up to grab one. when i came back to the table with a fork my cousin gave me a warning look; i didn't get it. i sat down and started eating. When my cousins grandma walked past she took away my fork. I was so confused. She told me I had to eat with my hands. I thought she was kidding; she wasn't. All this time i never realized that my cousin was eating with her hands also. There was a technique and everything to it. At first i was very judgmental but then i realized that this was her culture. It was a great learning experience and I'm glad i had the chance to learn about the culture and could except the differences.